Coffee-making apparatus and automatic control means therefor



Jan. 10, 1950 D. F. SWANSON 2,493,932

7 COFFEE MAKING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 10, 1950 D F. SWANSON 2,

COFFEE MAKING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 5, 1944 4 Shgets-Sheet 2 4444 is LL61; 45

36 13 I aiqzdflffizz/azzaow a T 62 W xaa/ 136 )55 4 F. SWANSON COFFEE MAKING APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Jan. 10, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 5, 1944 Jan. 10, 1950 D F. swANsoN COFFEE MAKII IG APPARATUS AND AUTOMATIC CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed Nov. 3, L944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented jan- 10, 1950 UNITE-JD PATENT DFFICE COFFEE-MAKING APPARATUS AND/AUTO MATH) CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR DcnaldE. Swanson, Chicagm I ll.

Application November 3, 1944, Seriaio; 561 1782 (Cl. titl -282:)-

5 Claims. 1

This invention. is directed. to improvements in a novel coffee-making apparatus commonly known ascofi'eeurns of the industrial type. More particularly my invention is directed toaxnovet combination and arrangement of parts in a corfieechairing apparatus wherein a ore-determined and. desired. volume of water of a. sum-- ciently high temperature will be measured. and selectively forced thruav closed :pathtOwa' swrivellymounted spray head. and only under selected pre-determined conditions of temperature.

An important object ofrmy invention is the pro vision or automatic means and mechanism in a coffee making apparatus for measuring the desired volume of hot water and for forcing: such rare-determined volume of sufficiently hot water from the heating tank to the spray head only if the water is heated to desired temperature, from where it drops down. into and thin the: ground coffee into the finished cofiiee compartment or compartments.

A further object .of my invention is the. provision of a coffee making. apparatus having :an outer water heating tank communicatively' con nected thru a series of pipes; with the spray head above the cofiee-ma'k-ing receptacle. or compartment, and which apparatus has operatively con.- nected thereto one or moreelectricaily responsive devices which control the periodical or intermittent introduction of sufiiciently hot water into the spray head and ultimately into-theicofieemaking compartment;

An important object of my invention isthe :provision of a water or liquid pressure responsive. device operatively connected to the. coffee compartments of urns or the like which devices'in turn are operatively connected to an electrical. switch which is connected to selectively and automatially open and close a flow control valve which is adapted to admit a pre-determined volume of hot water from the hot water reservoir of the urn through the spray head and into the finished coffee compartment. A further object ac:- complishment of my invention is the provision of" the aforesaid pressure-responsive device opera. tively connected to an electrically energized flow control valve which, when the coffee is substantially withdrawn from. the liquid cofiee compartment, will permit manual actuation of a starting switch to cause an actuation and opening of said flow control valve to cause the same to remain open a suflicient time to admit .a predetermined amount of water into the liquid cottee compartment.

A further object and accomplishment of my 2 invention isthe precision of. the coffee making apparatus-including, an inner cofiee making com,- partment or receptacle contained within an outer hot water tank and. circuitous pipes. through which thehot water may be passedaby pressure of. the cold water supply source, said hot water beingdelivered throughthe. spray head to drop into thefinished cotfeecompartment, andinanelectrically operable flow control valve is; coni nected circuit with a. pressure-responsiveneuice: which iecomrnunicativeiy connected to the. cofiee compartment so that upon lowering. oi the leveil: of: the liquid cofiees-to. a predetermined point the manual actuation of a starting: switch will close the solenoid valve circuit. to cause an openingof said: electrically actuated flow control val ve to thenebycauseahotvvater totlow from the; hot water reservoir of through the-spray head and into either the. liquid cofiee compartmentand: rurther tooprovide means which, when the water the tankreaches a. selected volume (according toamamualadjustment), the pressureresponsive device will close and energize areset coil which in turn operates the reset :means. :to open a. micro switch to; thereby open the icircuit of. said; solenoid valve to cause spring-impelled close ing or said-now control valve.

A further object and accomplishment oi my invention :isaprovision of economically manufacturable cotieeemaking apparatus: of the afore type which includes automatically operaiole hotwaterfeed controls and a pressuresresponsive control device which is: connected incir. cuit with the electricaily operated flow control valve, and which is adapted to effect a flow of hot water from the hot water reservoir into the cofiee making-"compartment and to thereby permit and assure the correct making or brew-ingot coffee by unskilled employees having little or no experience in coffee making; and to make it impossible forsuch employees to admit insufficiently hot water or animproper quantity of water into the coffee making compartment.

Other and further objects. 01': .my invention will" be apparent from the following description and appendedv claims. I

.on the. drawings 2.

Fig. 1-. is, a top plan view of my coffee making, apparatus.

2 is a tron-t -.elevatio-n thereof.

Fig. 3' is a side elevational view thereof.

Figacross sectional view takenton a hori zontal plane at the top of the said automaticcofiee zmaki ng. apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view taken on a vertical plane through the apparatus.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation of the indicating panel shown at the lower left of Fig. 5 and illustrating the control and meter thereon.

Fig. 7 is a front sectional view thereof with the walls and other parts shown in cross section.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the removably mounted hood or cover together with the upper portion of the hot water delivery pipe.

' Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the hood or cover, and, of pipe connections shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line |0I0 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged View of a portion of a locking device adapted to releasably mount the ground coffee bag or strainer inside the urn.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged View of a segment of said releasable locking device in closed position.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary and cross sectional view illustrating the lower portion of the hood together with a segment of a fabric strainer or :bag, and with a locking device such as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 shown in cross section.

Fig. 14 is a partially side elevational view and a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring and circuit connections to the various parts.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged front elevation of the dial or face upon the pressure gauge or circuit control device, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 14 at each side of the automatic coffee making apparatus.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the liquid-responsive pressure device which is adapted to open and close a circuit as hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings, the main body of the urn or cofiee making apparatus is composed of a shell or casing of substantial oval cross section as illustrated in the drawings. This shell or casing is composed of the outer meta1 wall 3|, illustrated as being of oval cross section. Numeral 32 designates a tank or reservoir within the upper part of the casing 30, whose side wall is spaced from wall 3| to provide intervening intermediate insulating space or'spaces wherein suitable insulating material may be placed if desired. The outer wall 3| extends downwardly and is joined by welding orthe like to the upper edge portion of an oval shaped base 33, whose down wardly extending flange is adapted to engage the supporting surface as illustrated.

The side wall of the reservoir 32 extends only part of the way downward wherein it merges into a substantially fiat metal bottom designated as 34. The uppermost portions of said wall 3| extend horizontally to form the top portion 3Ia as indicated, which extend inwardly and are joined together by welding or the like to form a substantially annular or circular upwardly facing shoulder or seat designated as 35, which is adapted to receive and form a seal for the re-' movable cover hereinafter defined.

Reference numeral 36 designates an optional lower transverse and horizontal metal wall which is mounted and secured immediately below the bottom 34 and spaced therefrom to provide an insulating space, the said panel together with said bottom 34 forming a double wall unit having a central opening therein through which connections a heater unit extends as hereinafter described.

4 of a plurality of optional spaced apart bracketlike substantially U-shaped legs or supports, each of which is secured or connected at its upper end to the bottom wall 36. Said auxiliary legs or sup- :ports 38 rest on the supporting surface and aid the base 33 in supportin the entire apparatus.

Numerals 4!! and 4| desginate two metal compartments, receptacles or tanks which may be economically formed from a single cylindrical tank by mounting a diametrical partition wall therein, to thereby form semi-cylindrical tanks,

I as shown in Fig. 7. Numerals 42 and 43 designate integral horizontally bent edge flanges on the upper edges of said tanks 40 and 4 I.

Numerals 44 and 45 designate elbow-like outlet pipes which are connected to the bottom walls of tanks 40 and 4|. respectively, and which extend horizontally through suitable openings in the front wall 3'! and have mounted on their outer ends suitable hand operated faucets 39 of any conventional construction and through which the brewed coffee is drawn as desired.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, a heater 41 .is mounted to heat the Water in the hot water compartment 48 defined by reservoir 32. Said heater may optionally be either below the bottom 34 to heat the water in the reservoir by conduction through the bottom, or may be above said bottom, particularly where electrical immersion type heaters are utilized and which I have illustrated. The immersion type heater 4'! is mounted in a removably secured member 49, which seals the opening in the bottom wall 34, 36 and through which suitable circuit wires extend to connect with circuit wires III], III hereinafter described. Said tanks 43 and 4| may be mounted to be quickly and easily removed by lifting the same out for sanitary and cleansing purposes, though after disconnecting the outflow pipes 45 and 44 to permit their simultaneous withdrawal.

It is to be understood that the heater is connected by suitable circuit wires to a manual control switch as well as provided within said circuit with a thermostat. Such circuit is described beginning at page 16 hereof.

As shown in Fig. 7, numeral I34 designates an inlet pipe connected to a water supply under pressure which is connected by a union to manually adjustable pressure valve I35 of conventional construction. Valve housing I36, provided with a conventional valve thereon, has a handle I31 connected to the outlet side of pressure valve I35 by suitable fittings as shown in Fig. '7. 'Valve housing I36 has a downwardly extending' drain opening therein normally closed by removable plug I38. The upperside outlet of said valve housing has connected to it a curved pipe I39 Which passes through the bottom of the reservoir 48, at which point it is sealed, and thence it extends horizontally to terminate at points substantially in the center of the heater 41, as shown inFig. 7, so that the cold feed Water is discharged adjacent said heater in order to provide efficient convection. Valve 536 with its removable-plug permits draining of the reservoir periodically to the level of the upper part of pipe I39;

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7 numeral 50 designates a conduit or pipe connected to the upwardly extending pipe 5| in reservoir 48 whose upper goose neck 5Ia terminates a short distance below the upper rim of said reservoir. Said flow conduit 50 has interposed therein the body portion of a solenoid actuated flow-control valve 52 Referring to Fig. '7, numeral 38 designates one and thence continues horizontally through pipe :ignated'as '-5.3;a, as shown :in the TCIOSS sectional 'zviewof-Fig. 18.

Assshown inFi-gs. l, 2 and 3, numeral M5 :des- :ignates a dome-:like metal cover .;having .a suitable handle I46 and pivotally mounted to the *topwall of the urn'unit by means f a projecting :metal arm or lever :I 4 .1, which is pivoted atom -suitable apertured bracket :I48 :substantiallyms illustrated. The periphery :of said noverfzis :adapted to seat, when the same ,is closed, in the :annular recess :or shoulder shown :in -.cross section in Figs. 5 and 7 :at thequpper :edge .of malice-tanks. I .P'rpeil has-a Y coupling -.5 I-.c:mo1mtedthere n which has threaded in one portion thereof aa. clean-out plug as shown.

Referring to Fig. :8, numeral 54 designates :an angular upturned delivery pipe, "sprayhead, fin nozzle which has one end threaded :into a thread- -.ed opening in'the housing :53b,iasiillustratediat -5.3-c in Fig. 8, and thereby communicatingzsaida,

tor-tight seal between the lower end ,of .pin 53-41 and plug 53g.

As shown in Fig. 8, -53-m designates a branch conduit which communic ateswith the interior said housing 53-1), and which contains :the nircuit wires to the selector two-way switch in said housing and hereinafter described.

The said swivel unit provides .for horizontally swinging the hot deliverypipe or sprayheadzouer .either one of two adjacentcofiee brewing-tanks as illustrated.

Asshown in Figs.8 and 9, the uppercompartment .of housing .53-b contains three spaced apart circuit terminal connections :81, .81., 85 mounted in the housing wall and insulated therefrom, and which are shown in .Fig. 9 .as approxi- .mately ninety degrees apart. A metal .arcuate switch plate .83 is secured with separating insulation (not shown), on and partially rotates .with the pin 53h so that said platecontacts :two 501 said terminals together when the .pipe is -in @0- sition over either of the coffee brewing-tanks.

6 sanil hntddheiedge *portionzof'thebagiimmediainly sabmdzherbead 1123.. flihe ilnoking :ring I24 Ehas its feuds :spaced :as indicated :in the :fragmentary view of Figs. 11 and 12, onerrofsaidlendsmavingram Ebraeket ;-;t thereon, :and the nth'er of aendsl'having doubled-hack hook-like mnaadaichzend ia'aemovablearmiorflever :I ZIzismivwas connected zby a :suitable :rivet, pin .;or ethe :metal 'conneetingflink 1.2?8 *hasnneieml e-conneiited to intermediate *pnrtions :uf or arm 121,35 indicated atTEig.;12,:and fits-rather end is ibentand anchored to the bracket thy :a pin for ithelike. When ithe leveriiscexdieniiednutwardly the same is mounted about the iahric :strainer then said .lever 1221 is against the said anchoring and locking strap,

.Referring to Fig. v8, reference numeral I20 designates a substantially cylindrical inverted cover or hood I 20 preferably made of metal. Reference numeral I2I designates a metal bracket-likehan- .dle, which has its opposite ends bent .as illus .trated .inFig. 8, and which is .rivetedooneguivalently attached.

Reference numeral I22 designatesraremovable iabric shown in crosssection in.Fig. '13, whichis preferably in .the form of a bag and which ts adapted to be removably suspended or mounted over the annular bead I23 .and held-insuch position .as long 'as desired by a releasable deckin ithereby musing said locking strap -.I;2-4 :torimpinge and against the edge portion tof ithe :fahric nacentacle or strainer 112 against the hood .m. it ris-ilesired'tozremove the strainer 122 :for cleaning :and replacement ;of ground coffee, ithe locking ring I24 is removed in the .manner shiefore described, and either a new or the same strainer may bereplaced, and coiiee grounds of the desired 'qua-ntity are'placed thereon.

.Beferring .again to .Fig. 8,:numeral .I-28-7u-.desrignates .a pair :of spaced apart hooks .opening downwardly which are secured on .the side .sur- Jane-10f the hood .IZB .in any :suitable manner, gas 191 example by :screws or rivets (not shown}, which pass through the hood :side wall. Anen- J'rally passaged plate or block (I29 ,is secured by welding or the like to the inside .of said .hood, asashown .Figs. i8 ands.

,yieldable-clip I28 =.-is..mounted on hood il-ZfifiD-d icooperates with :hooks .IZB-a to releasably mount .nozzle pipe 54 with .respecttosaid :hood. A collar 84 .is secured about nozzle pipe .54 in .a position so that its periphery may be. slipped under and releasably engage hooks 128-41 and :clip J28, 8.3. ShOWI1 in Fig.8.

Said-reinforcing block I29 is secured by weldingsor .the .likeon the inside wall of the .hood :L-ZIJ sand providesreinforcingand securing meanssurrounding -.the-qpening in said hoodrthroug-h which the nozzle pipe 54 passes, the said blochprevent- .ing :bnckling or distortion of the side :wall of sea-110001420 when the hood is moved or-removed entirelyfromrsaid spray nozzle 84 and pipe 54.

Description of 110 .volt circuit controlling flow .control valve and other parts Referring to the diagrammatic view of Fig. 14 I first describe the 110 volt circuit which .connects the power source "with a 110 "volt :micro rswitch I30 and the electrically actuated flow control valve, and in which circuit a-temperature responsive electrically *actuable makeand-break switch 60 is ounted.

Starting at the positive terminal I32a of the power-source indicated at .the lower part of the figure, -a.manua1ly operable toggle switch is connected in said positive circuit wire 132 which wirethen leads .to'one terminal of a micro switch .ofconventional construction'designated as 51. A stazctmg-push button switch 58 is operatively connected .to said .micro switch 51 as illustrated :diagrammatically in 14. The circuit thencontinuesrthrough 15116 circuit wiredesignated as :59

the thermostatically controlled make-andlareak switchdevice designated as 6D.

The thermostatically controlled switch -60 ris provided'with a conventional form of make-wandclamp or ring J24 which is adapted .to envelope break"rmovable :contact "(not shown), and withza .7 thermometer 6| which extends upwardly. 'into the reservoir as shown in Fig. 14. The point at which said thermometer 6! passes through a'passage in the bottom of tank 40 is suitably sealed in a conventional manner. The circuit then continues from the thermostatically controlled device 60 to circuit wire designated as 62 to one terminal of the solenoid of the solenoid-actuated flow control valve designated generally as 52. The movable element 63 is operatively connected to a suitable solenoid 64 and a slidable retractable bar which is connected to the movable valve element 63 and which is shown in partial cross section in Fig. 14, and a spring 61' normally holds valve element 63 in closed position when said solenoid is not energized.

The circuit continues from one terminal of said solenoid of said control valve 52 through wire 66, through transformer 68 and thence to the ground as indicated in Fig. 14. Wire 66 continues also to the negative side of the power source whose terminal is designated as 65.

Description of volt circuit connecting the lump or signal light and transformer:

Referring to Fig. 14, starting at the right hand terminal of the transformer 15, circuit wire 76 connects one terminal thereof with a signal lamp H, which is mounted in a convenient 'viewable position on the front panel of the device and as hereinafter described.

Circuit wire 18 connects circuit wire 1'6 to the low voltage electric coil 19 andto one terminal of the micro switch 51. Circuit wire '10 connects manual stop switch 1! to the right hand terminal of coil 19. Circuit wire 80 connects the same terminal of coil 19 and wire 18 to one spring-containing terminal 8! of a two-way switch 82 which is mounted adjacent and within the casing 53-;-b of the swivel member generally herein described, which aids in supporting the swingably mounted hood l2 which is adapted to be moved from position above one of the tanks 40 to above the other tank 4! and vice versa, depending upon into which of the two said tanks the hot water is to be delivered.

As shown in detail in Fig. 9, the switch-82 '-is provided with a terminal 85 which is mounted substantially diametrically opposite contact terminal 81 as shown at the left in Fig.9. A metal arcuate contact plate or member 83', which is suitably secured on the interior surface of the casing 53-b of said swivel member; is adapted to contact two of said three terminals together at a time. in other words either to contact central terminal 8| to terminal 81, or when the nozzle 85 and hood I29 are in the left hand po-sition shown in Fig. 14, it will contact terminals BI and 86. a v j When the spray nozzle 85 and hood I29 are in position illustrated in Fig. 14, the said terminal circuit will pass through and continue from termi nal 8! through contact terminal 81 and then downwardly through circuit wire 89 to the metal terminal ring 90 of the adjustable liquid pressure-responsive control device and switch 'designated generally as SI, and one of which devices is shown in cross section in Fig. 16. A- short circuit wire 92 connects the metal casing of said pressure-responsive switch device 9| to the ground, as indicated at the left and right of said Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the device generally designated by 9| which emanother of the two-way switch 82.

bodies a suitably disposed expandable diaphragm 91" which is responsive to the liquid pressure of the liquid body communicated therewith, (in this case the liquid coffee in the respective tanks). Said device 9| includes a manually adjustable make and break switch together with a face and 'dial I39 and indicator I40, which is shown in Fig. 15. Numeral 93 designates an enclosing shell or'housing mounted on a suitable metal passaged fitting or member 94 which is communicated by a pipe 95, of relatively small dimension, to the upper end of an upwardly extending pipe 96, whose lower end is secured to the flow and outlet pipe 44 as illustrated in Fig. 14. The pipe 95 is preferably formed with an upwardly extending goose neck which extends above the upper end of the pipe 96 as shown. The upper end of pipe 96 is providedwith a removable threaded plug or cap 95a to permit a periodical cleaning thereof.

Numeral 91 designates a conventional form of annular expansable diaphragm which is mounted on and communicates with the upwardly extending passaged member 97-a and which communicates the interior of said expansable diaphragm 91 to the member 94, and pipes 95 and 96. It is to be understood that the liquid pressure within each of the said liquid coffee tanks is transmitted through the pipe 95, in which pipe 95 and member 94 a column of air is normally trapped, to

thereby cause the forward face wall of said wardly, to thereby electrically connect the circuit of wire 89 to the ground through wire 92.

Numeral Ml designates diagrammatically a suitable movement transmitting mechanism of conventional form which transmits the pressureimparted expansion of said diaphragm to move the indicator hand M9 over the dial I39, said dial preferably having graduations and indlcia thereon to correspond to the volume of water needed in the corresponding coffee tank to effect a closing of aforesaid circuit and consequent stoppage of hot water flow.

Circuit wire 89 extends from the ring terminal of the adjusting screw 98b to the terminal 81 The screw 98 is adjustable toward and away from the diaphram 97 so that the electrical connection between the diaphram and screw may be made when there is a predetermined volume in the coffee tank, to close the circuit from wire 89 through wire 92 to the ground.

While I have described in a preferred form the movable element which responds to the pressure as a diaphragm, I desire it to be understood that equivalent movable members which are responsive to the rise of the liquid maybe equivalently and satisfactorily utilized.

As shown in Fig. 15, an adjusting screw 98- b is provided with an optional indicator which is adapted to be moved to the desired degree and asindicated by the indicia 6, 8, 10, 12 on the face or dial of said device 9|. The said indlcia maybe such as to correspond to the quantity of liquid in the tank so as to adjustably space the arm 98-a from the center portion of the diaphragm 91"so that the quantity of coffee in the tank, which will close the said circuit through ageaeaa 9 arrm98+-a;..will be; substantiallyv indicated bysaid: indi'cim.

pressure: responsive device shown at the night: of: Fig; 14".. is of; the same construction as has; just been described and is similarly operatively' connected to the right hand" tank 44, though connected by wire 30 toterminal 86' of the; upper two-way switch aforedescribed. The dial:9lof said right hand device is shownat the right'of Fig; 6.

Numeral M3 designates a conventional drain: valve: which is mounted and sealed in the; front wail 31 of reservoir to permit selective with--- drawal of. hot water therefrom, as shown in; Figs. Z-and: 3.

Description of 110 volt circuit connecting powersource: and heater-and 24 volt transformer Starting, at thepositive sideof the'power source designated by the circuit wire i32 from terminal l3;2s--a and. the; toggle switch 55, a circuit wire lfiofielectrically connectssaid toggle switch 56 to one terminal of a power relay switch 108, which isa 110volt unit; This circuit continues through theseparablemovable switch arm of switch [08, when the same are contacted together by angular pivoted arm I39. mounted onbracket It?! and connected to the frame of power relay :3. Then said:-circu-it.fr.om wire Hi5, continues through thecircuitl-w-ire l 1.0 to the heater Said. circuit then continues in its return throughcircuit wire ti l-back to the negative side ofthe power source through. wire !-I I, though beingconnected to the 24volttransiormer H shown on the lower right. of. Fig. 14.v

Descriptionof low voltage circuit fromtransformer'71 a and temperature controlled thermostat. 7 a" As shown in Fig. 14, a wire l2 connects one terminal of the low voltage side of'transformer 'Ha to the terminal of power relay l3 and passes through said power relay 13 through wire IS-a to and through inlet and outlet terminals of conventional thermostat a iand through circuit wire 14-" back to the other terminal of' low voltage transformer Tia. The thermometer of said thermost'at extends intothe hot water reservoir and according totheselected adjusted'setting of said thermostat, the decrease of temperature of the reservoir water below the. desired and adjusted degree will. cause said: thermostat to close said. circuit. from. wire ril -a. to said wire iii to thereby energize the power relay T31 to in turn operate" switch arm or lever 519.9: and. contact the arms. or

contactmembiers H18 toithereby close the-lIOzvolt 4 aforedescrib'ed. circuit ofa'the' heater: When the". heater has: raised the temperature of the reservoir water;. the: thermostat will operate: power relay 13-to-separate switch arms 18 to open said 11.0 voltlheater. circuit.

Accordingly the: power circuit to-said-gheater-is selectively controlled by the temperature of. the: reservoir. water.

While]; have; described: the foregoing; circuit; as. aclow'voltage: circuit, I desire itto be. understoodthat. any normally used voltages may be satisfactorily; utilized;

When the said 10-volt circuit through-the-circuitiwire. 89, diaphragm. El, contact arm 98, etc., is. closed and grounded as aforesaid, the switch operating coillfi willbe e ergized toithereby pivot and. move: the.- angular-arm. 13a: of. the afmlesaidswitch. and. to thereupon open. said. micro.

switch. therebic open the. aforedescribed- 110.

valt-mrcuitinwhicln the 50181 103151: (lithe-flow con (ill.

a over" the-tank desired,. this without in any way.-

affiecting. or: disconnecting the.- other, of. said tanks and: its associated-parts from. the apparatus-as a:

" experienced or carelessemployees.

trol valve 52 is: mounted. This willcut off the. solenoid of said.- flow control valve 52. from. its source Ofi power; and the spring 52b (Fig. 14) will return saidrfiow control valve-to closed. position to'stop the flow of hot water from the reservoir 48- to and; throug-hthe spray nozzle from. which. it normally; falls by gravity through the; ground coiT-ee-on' strainer I22 intosaidtanksfll and M- respectively.v

It will be understood from the aforedescribed structural features, parts and. circuits-that whenever; the: power switch and the source of power. is. closed and. that: when. the volumeof coffee. in: either one or the: other of tanks Gil-and 4|- falls: below a; desired volume; (it usually bein allowed; to become substantially empty before res-brewed) coffee is allowed: to-fall into the tank): the; 0.13- erator, whether" inexperienced or experienced, merely: needs.- to depress the manually actuable. switch. 581 to closeth'e. 1 10 volt circuit. to t-he; solenoid valve-52 to;- thereby open said: valve; and per mit the pressure head. of the water. supply-to:- force' the hotwater through theflow pipe or con-- duit 52'--a: and through thesaid" open: flow con. trol valve 52 into and. through the perforated. spray head from which it will drop by gravity upon: and through the coffee: grind: which. has been placed into the releasa'blymounted, fabric receptacle or strainer l22ato' then drip through the: same and into theparticuiar tank over which said; strainer is positioned attire-particular time-. It. is t'obe understood that the? pressure; of the cold. water supply source maintains. an air pressure head above the water inthe reservoir;

However, an 5 important feature. of. construction; and operation of. myr'said apparatus is that inspite of the manual actuation of the. starting; switch by either: inexperienced or experienced? employees; the? power circuit: to said solenoid: valve 522 will; not. be. closed unless the water inthe hot water reservoir istsufficiently hot. and of: sufiicientlys higlr temperature to be usable. for satisfactory brewing of; coffee; this because.- the: thermostat: 6B will;hol1d;saitd*v solenoid: valve circuit. open if the wateris' not sufficiently hot andi as adjusted; and; controlledlby the saidthermostat-z 60. This new and'improved factor of operation. eliminates the. present troubles: of presently known urns'when; tl'lGi same? are operated; by in:-

A. further important; accomplishment: of my in. vention. isin the. provision of twin tank unit.

whereintwotanks are. contained within the same:- hot' waten reservoir; and either of; which; tanksa may' be: selectively utilized by themselves-,, or simultaneously; to brew the coffee: in the afore-- described: manner, and to: accord with the coffee volume; requirements of: the particular businessor'of the. particular time of: the day. Forexample; in; non-busy periods; ofthe. day, the;b1'.ewingcan: be carriedioninzonly one of. the said tanks merely by allowing thespray head 8.5 torhe positioned:

whole; v

A further'novel; accomplishment of. the aforeandzwiththezaforedescribiedparts. and each one-of which are: communicatively connected. to. its; owncofieebreWingtanK; so that the attainment-ciapressure (asmanualIy adiusted on '55-; pnessureeresponsivef devices), willv causes; an,

opening of the circuit to the solenoid operated flow control valve and thereby automatically stop the inflow of thewater to and through the spray nozzle as aforesaid. Further, the provision of the separate circuit means and pressure-responsive gauges or devices for each tank provides completely independent and selective operation of either of said tanks, though employing and utilizing a common power source and single heater.

I desire it to be understood that while I have described a heater of the immersion type mounted within the body of water in the reservoir, that any other known type of electrically powered heater may be employed, either exterior of the reservoir or within the same. Gas heaters may also be satisfactorily employed in the usual manner to heat the water in the reservoir.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of my invention, within the scope of the claims, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a cofi'ee making apparatus including a hot water reservoir and a plurality of coffee brewing tanks, a pipe means for conveying water from the reservoir to the tanks including a single discharge end adapted to swing from above one of said tanks to any of the others, a solenoid operated valve in said pipe; pressure responsive operable mechanism including a pressure responsive diaphragm and a manually adjustable tanks causing said mechanism to de-energize the solenoid of said valve to close the pipe to a water flow from said reservoir.

2. In a coffee making machine inwhich water is heated in a reservoir and conduced through a pipe line for spraying over a batch of coffee into a tank; a normally closed solenoid operable valve in said pipe line; circuit means for the solenoid of said valve including a normally closed openable start switch having a circuit closing element; a pressure responsive means including a second switch and a pressure responsive diaphragm, said diaphragm being communicatively connected with the interior of said tank; second circuit means for said second switch; lever means movable by the energization of said second circuit means, said lever means being oper-. atively connected to said first switch and being adapted to break an electric circuit in said first mentioned circuit means, the rise of pressure in the tank to a predetermined amount being adapted to cause said diaphragm to close said second switch to thereby cause energization of said second circuit and thereby move said lever to cause said circuit closing element to be moved into circuit open position to thereby break the circuit in said first mentioned circuit means, and

12 a cofiee making tank therein; a delivery conduit adapted to deliver water from said reservoir into said tank; a self-closing electrically operated valve in said conduit; a first circuit connecting said electrically operated valve to a power source and including a manually closeable start switch, said start switch being adapted to close said first circuit and including a movable lever for open-' ing said start switch; a transformer connected to said first circuit and adapted to be energized thereby; a valve outlet pipe on said tank; an electrical switch device including a fluid pressure operable mechanism including a pressure fresponsive diaphragm therein adapted to close said electrical switch device and being connected to a low voltage coil of said transformer; a closed path connecting said diaphragm and said tank outlet pipe; a second circuit connected to said electrical switch device and being adapted to be energized by the closure thereof; an electrically operable circuit breaking mechanism being operable by the energization of said second circuit and being adapted to move said lever to thereby open said manually closeable start switch, the rise of liquid in said tank to a predetermined level being adapted to close said electrical switch device to in turn permit energization of said el'ec-.

'trically operable switch breaking mechanism to thereby efiectclo'sing of the valve operated by a V the solenoid."

3. In an automatic self feeding coffee making apparatus including a hot water reservoir and having a hot water reservoir and a coffee brew-' ing tank, a pipe communicating with the upper portion of the reservoir for delivering water to the tank, a self-closing solenoid actuable valve in said pipe; anelectric circuit for said solenoid for connection with a power source and havinga manually closeable switch in it and support means therefor, said switch including a movable circuit closing element, the closure of said switch being-adapted to energize said electric circuit for said solenoid; a relay; a pivotable lever mechanism operably connected to the support means of said manually operable switch and adapted to be pivoted by the energization of said relay to reset said manually operable switch to circuit open position; a fluid pressure operableelectric switch including a flexible diaphragm; a low voltage circuit connecting said relay and said fluid pressure operable electric switch; the attainment of a predetermined pressure effected by the volume of liquid in the coffee brewing tank being adapted to flex said diaphragm to cause closing of said low voltage circuit and to energize said relay whereby said lever mechanism will be pivoted to move said circuit closing element and thereby open said manually operable" switch to thereby d eenergizethe solenoid of said valve to permit closing of same.

5. A cofiee making apparatus including a hot water reservoir and a coffee brewing tank, a pipe for supplying water to the tank from the reservoir; a normally closed vale in said pipe; a solenoid adapted to operate said valve; a first cir'- cuit for the solenoid; a manually closeable switch having a circuit closing element and being 13 nected to said casing and having a portion thereof connected to a central portion of said diaphragm; a relay operated mechanism operatively connected to open said manually closeable switch; a second circuit connecting said manually adjustable switch of said casing and the coil of said relay operated mechanism, the rise in pressure in said coffee brewing tank being adapted to flex said diaphragm to cause closing of said manually adjustable switch to thereby cause energization of the coil of said relay to in turn operate said operated mechanism to thereby move said circuit closing element to open said manually closeable start switch and said first circuit.

DONALD F. SWANSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Peters et al May 13, 1947 Number Re. 22,879

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